Group 4: Lithuania and Montenegro decide everything

Greece will “cohabit” the Mall of Asia in Manila in its first phase World Cup with his teams fourth groupwith which it will cross in the second phase of the groups.

THE Lithuania despite her absences, she prevails as a favorite of the group, with the Montenegro to have a lot of talent but also the “weight” of failures in major competitions. Egypt and Mexico they will need a lot of effort to “break” the European duo of favorites for qualification to the “16”.

Lithuania: With talent but also absences

After the crushing failure at last year’s Eurobasket, Lithuania returns to the World Cup determined to make amends. Absences complicate the work of Kazis Maksvitis, who shone with his work in Zalgiris but will be tested at… national level. The group offers a relatively comfortable qualification, while the crossover with USA and probably Greece offers the conditions for a run to at least the quarter-finals. This will be the sixth appearance of “Lithuania” in the event, with the highlight being the bronze medal in 2010 in Turkey.

Star: In the absence of Domantas Sabonis, there is no doubt that the big name of Lithuania is Jonas Valanciunas. The 31-year-old center is coming off a very good season with the Pelicans with 14.1 points, 10.2 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game. Tall with the ability to play with his face and back, he has added to his repertoire over the years a threat from the three-pointer, while he is also a very capable rebounder.

Advantages: With a roster full of talent despite the absences and without the pressure of previous years to medal, this can be liberating for Lithuania.

Disadvantages: While there is quality on the roster, one cannot say that there will not be a lack of players of the quality of Sabonis, Grigonis, Ulanovas, Giedraitis and Lekavicius.

Forecast: Lithuania will top their group and play their second leg against Greece in the second round for a place in the quarterfinals. Her ceiling is hardly higher, though…

The roster of Lithuania

Vaidas Kariniauskas (16/11/1993 – 1.98m. – G) Mazekiai

Rokas Yokubaitis (19/11/2000 – 1.94m. – G) Barcelona

Tomas Dimsa (02/01/1994 – 1.96m – G) Zalgiris

Margiris Domantas (27/10/1996 – 1.94m. – G) Ritas Vilnius

Davydas Sirvidis (10/06/2000 – 2.03m – G/F) Wisconsin Herd

Ignas Brazdeikis (08/01/1999 – 2.01m – G/F) Zalgiris

Tandas Sedekerskis (17/01/1998 – 2.06m. – F) Baskonia

Mindaugas Kuzminskas (19/10/1989 – 2.06m. – F) AEK

Eimantas Bendzius (23/04/1990 – 2.07m – PF) Sassari

Donatas Motiegiounas (20/09/1990 – 2.13m. – C) Monaco

Jonas Valanciunas (06/05/1992 – 2.11m. – C) New Orleans Pelicans

Laurinas Biroutis (27/08/1997 – 2.13m. – C) Zalgiris

Gabrielius Maldounas (19/04/1993 – 2.04m. – C) Lietkampelis

Coach: Kazis Maksvitis

Assistant coaches: Giedrius Zibenas, Benas Matkevicius

Montenegro: The… dark horse of the competition

It is considered an underdog, but it has a roster capable of surprising. Montenegro go into the World Cup without being seen as a… threat, however with the players available and no resounding absences they look capable of surprising. He should-however-make the breakthrough, since in recent years he has been an underachiever. In 2019, in the only appearance at the World Cup, he was left out of the first phase, while he has never managed to reach the EuroBasket eight.

Star: Undoubtedly, even if in the major competitions with the national emblem he has disappointed, the leader of the team is Nikola Vucevic. The 32-year-old center averaged 17.6 points, 11 rebounds and 3.2 assists this year with the Bulls, with whom he signed a new three-year, $60 million contract. A modern tall man with amazing technique and a terrific shot from long range, despite his defensive frailties, ‘Butch’ is one of the top names at this World Cup.

Advantages: The team has a wealth of talent, with players like Vucevic, Perry, Simonovic, Dublijevic, capable of taking them much higher than many think.

Disadvantages: Despite having the quality to reach the top, Montenegro has repeatedly failed at major competitions. This looks like a psychological burden, which the team’s players have not been able to shed so far.

Forecast: They will definitely qualify for the second phase, but obviously the games against Lithuania and Greece will decide whether they go to the quarterfinals. This is also what her ceiling looks like.

The roster of Montenegro

Nikola Ivanovic (19/02/1994 – 1.90m. – G) Red Star

Kendrick Perry (23/12/1992 – 1.83m – G) Malaga

Igor Drobniak (21/04/2000 – 1.93m – G) Buduchnost

Petar Popovic (13/09/1996 – 1.95m – G) Buduchnost

Vladimir Mihailovic (10/08/1990 – 1.95m – G) Mornar Bar

Dino Radoncic (01/08/1999 – 2.03m – F) Zaragoza

Andrija Slavkovic (15/02/1999 – 1.97m – F) Derby

Alexa Ilic (17/09/1996 – 2.02m. – PF ) Buduchnost

Nemanja Radovic (11/11/1991 – 2.08m – PF) Murcia

Bojan Dublijevic (24/10/1991 – 2.05m – C) Zenit St. Petersburg

Marko Simonovic (15/10/1999 – 2.13m – PF/C) Red Star

Nikola Vucevic (21/10/1990 – 2.08m – C) Chicago Bulls

Coach: Bosco Radovic

Assistant coaches: Bosko Boskovich, Vladimir Todorovich

Mexico: With experience for the… experience

Mexico is reaching the World Cup for the sixth time in its history and for the first time since 2014 it took 14th place. Omar Quintero will expect an overachievement from a roster that features several older players, but also some that lack experience and performances. Stoll, H. Gutierrez, J. Gutierrez Cruz and Hernandez were also present nine years ago at the World Cup, when they were eliminated by the USA in the “16”.

Star: Paul Stoll may be 37 years old, but he is the team’s most talented player and has had the most remarkable career behind him. A short guard, with ability to execute and create, who is the leader of the Mexicans, even if his legs are now heavy.

Advantages: Ignorance of risk and low expectations relieves Mexico of the “must” and this can free Omar Quintero’s players.

Disadvantages: Mexico’s good players are in the west of their careers and the youngsters are “unripe” at the high level, so the roster does not have much potential.

Forecast: Mexico will be fighting for a win against Egypt, but it looks impossible to make the breakthrough by beating Lithuania or Montenegro to progress to the second stage.

Mexico’s roster

Joshua Ibarra (26/01/1995 – 2.10m – C)

Paul Stoll (04/12/1985 – 1.80m – G) Libertadores de Queretaro

Israel Gutierrez (15/01/1993 – 2.06m – C) Dorados de Chihuahua

Daniel Amigo (13/09/1995 – 2.08m – F) Grises de Umacao

Hector Hernandez (15/01/1985 – 2.05m – PF) Libertadores de Queretaro

Gael Bonilla (26/02/2003 – 2.02m – F) Mexico City Captains

Jorge Gutierrez (12/27/1988 – 1.91m – G) Libertadores de Queretaro

Fabian James (22/09/1992 – 1.98m – F) Panteras de Acquascalientes

Ivan Montano (17/09/1998 – 1.80m. – G) Plateros de Fresnillo

Francisco Cruz (03/10/1989 – 1.91m – G) Buyuksehir

Moises Andriasi (01/03/2000 – 1.85m. – G) Astros De Jalisco

Gabriel Giron (27/02/1988 – 1.93m – G) Libertadores de Queretaro

Orlando Mendes (29/04/1986 – 1.83m. – G) Capitanes de Thiudad

Jorge Camacho (16/04/1989 – 2.01m – PF) Rayos de Hermosillo

Coach: Omar Quintero

Assistant coaches: Victor Canales, Gustavo Quintero

Egypt: Looking for the surprise

For the seventh time in its history, Egypt will be present at a World Cup and is looking for a breakthrough to stand out and have a better fate than the 24th place in its previous appearance, in 2014. Canadian coach Roy Rana, who had led his national team in the 2019 World Cup finals but also the country’s U19 to gold in 2017, will try to… juice up the country’s limited talent.

Star: Patrick Gardner was born in the USA and chose to represent the team from his mother’s country. The 24-year-old center shined with Marist in the NCAA, earning a spot with the Miami Heat in Las Vegas and a contract to join the Brooklyn Nets preseason. He’s a tall guy with great quality and a good long shot who may not have the plays, but he’s by far the biggest prospect on the roster.

Advantages: Egypt have a lot of big bodies and can use this trump card to cause problems for… unwary opponents.

Disadvantages: The quality on the roster is very limited, with the vast majority of players lacking major league experience.

Forecast: He can hardly expect much better than just a victory in the… derby with Mexico.

Egypt’s roster

Amr El Gedi (14/06/1991 – 1.92m. – G) Al Ahli

Amr Zahran (06/10/2001 – 1.91m. – G) Al Ahli

Karim Hatem Elgizaoui (13/01/2005 – 1.91m. – G)

Adam Musa (14/07/2002 – 1.91m – G)

Yusuf Shemata (16/01/1996 – 1.83m. – G) Sporting Alexandria

Ehab Amin (01/08/1995 – 1.93m – G) Male

Waled Abdelgawad (15/02/1999 – 2.04m – F/C) Zamalek

Omar Azab (04/05/1998 – 1.91m – G) Al Ahli

Anas Mahmoud (09/05/1995 – 2.14m – PF/C) Zamalek

Youssef Abusousa (09/06/1993 – 1.92m – G/F) Al Ittihad

Ahmed Halaf (24/02/1999 – 2.11m – C) Al Ittihad

Ahmed Yasser Abdelwahab (18/01/2001 – 2.01m – F) Zamalek

Omar El Sheikh (14/05/1998 – 2.03m – F) Arkansas

Patrick Gardner (16/06/1999 – 2.11m – C) Brooklyn Nets

Ali Ahmed (15/03/1992 – 2.04m – C) Al Ittihad

Asem Murray (16/06/1992 – 2.06m – C) Chungwon Soccers

Omar Orabi (08/09/1991 – 2.18m. – C) Al Ahly

Omar Hessam (29/03/1995 – 1m87m – G) Zamalek

Mostafa Kegio (22/10/1994 – 2.04m. – PF) Zamalek

Coach: Roy Rana